The 2026 ESPY Awards brought together some of the biggest names in sports for a night that celebrated championship moments, inspiring stories, and standout performances from the past year. Held on July 15, 2026, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, the annual awards ceremony honored athletes across professional and college sports while recognizing individuals whose impact extended far beyond competition.
Hosted by comedian Marcello Hernández, the ceremony aired live on ABC and the ESPN App. Along with the awards, the evening featured music from DJ Premier, performances by New York hip-hop legends Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, and De La Soul, while the Savannah Bananas opened the show. As in previous years, the ESPYs also supported the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Award season has been in full swing across the entertainment world this year, with music’s biggest night delivering its own share of historic moments. To know more, read our article 2026 Grammy Awards Full Breakdown: Historic Wins, Complete Winners List, and Unforgettable Moments from Music’s Biggest Night
2026 ESPY Awards: Official event details
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 ESPY Awards presented by Capital One |
| Date | July 15, 2026 |
| Venue | David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, New York City |
| Host | Marcello Hernández |
| Broadcast | ABC and ESPN App |
| Charity Partner | V Foundation for Cancer Research |
Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks dominated the 2026 ESPY Awards
Few teams enjoyed a bigger night than the New York Knicks. Fresh off their championship success, the franchise collected several of the evening’s top honors.
Jalen Brunson won Best Championship Performance, Best NBA Player, and Best Athlete – Men’s Sports, while the New York Knicks were named Best Team. Knicks forward OG Anunoby also earned Best Play, adding another major moment to the team’s remarkable year.
Acting achievements were also celebrated in a big way this year, with a legendary actor receiving a lifetime honor at another major ceremony. For more on that, read our post Harrison Ford’s Emotional 2026 SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award Speech: Inside the Actor Awards’ Most Unforgettable Night
Several other athletes also claimed multiple honors. A’ja Wilson was named both Best WNBA Player and Best Athlete – Women’s Sports, continuing her run as one of basketball’s most decorated stars. Shohei Ohtani received Best MLB Player and Best Single-Game Performance, while Myles Garrett earned Best NFL Player and Best Record-Breaking Performance.
Full list of 2026 ESPY Award winners
- Best Championship Performance: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Best Breakthrough Athlete: Alysa Liu (U.S. figure skating)
- Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors; accepted with Ayesha Curry)
- Best College Athlete – Men’s Sports: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana football)
- Best College Athlete – Women’s Sports: Lauren Betts (UCLA women’s basketball)
- Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Jim Abbott (former MLB pitcher)
- Best Single-Game Performance: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Best Play: OG Anunoby (New York Knicks)
- Pat Tillman Award for Service: Scott Ruskan (U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer)
- Best Record-Breaking Performance: Myles Garrett (Los Angeles Rams)
- Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
- Best NBA Player: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Gatorade Players of the Year: Maddie DiMaria and Grady Emerson
- Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Kelis Armstrong, Julia Howe, and Samuel Phillips
- Arthur Ashe Courage Award (posthumous): Jason Collins (former NBA player)
- Best Athlete – Men’s Sports: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Best Athlete – Women’s Sports: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
- Best Team: New York Knicks
- Best Comeback Athlete: Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers)
- Best Athlete with a Disability: Declan Farmer (Paralympic hockey)
- Best NFL Player: Myles Garrett
- Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
- Best Driver: Lando Norris (F1)
- Best Fighter: Terence Crawford (boxing)
- Best Soccer Player: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
- Best Golfer: Scottie Scheffler
- Best Tennis Player: Carlos Alcaraz
Television’s biggest names also had reason to celebrate this year, with nominations recently announced for the industry’s top honors. To learn more, check out our article 2026 Emmy Awards Nominations: Full List of Top Nominees Led by The Pitt and Hacks
Special awards highlighted courage, perseverance and service
Beyond the competitive categories, the ceremony honored athletes and individuals whose stories reached beyond the field of play.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award was presented posthumously to Jason Collins, recognizing his lasting impact as an openly gay athlete in the NBA. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, celebrating a remarkable career despite being born without a right hand.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service went to Scott Ruskan, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer recognized for his heroic rescue efforts during the Texas floods. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry, joined by Ayesha Curry, accepted the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his off-court work.
Music tributes also made headlines at another major awards show this year, with an emotional performance honoring a late icon. To see the moment, read our article BET Awards 2026: Jaafar Jackson’s Emotional Tribute to Michael Jackson Leaves Fans Talking as ‘Michael’ Breaks Historic Box Office Records
The red carpet reflected the scale of the event, with appearances from Simone Biles, Alysa Liu, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Suni Lee, Jalen Brunson, and many others, as the ESPYs returned to New York City for a celebration of the year’s biggest achievements in sports.
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